Planning a Group Trip to Greece
What to Expect from a Tour or Cruise Company
Most tour and cruise companies offer special rates for group travel. Depending on the company, even groups as small as 4 or 6 may be entitled to special discounts.Many companies will also offer a "free" trip for the escort or organizer, but be careful - these "free" slots are actually being subsidized by the other members on the trip. Also, the magic number for that "free" slot varies wildly. You may find companies offering one free trip to Greece for as few as eight participants or as many as twenty-five participants. The average is one free trip per 12-15 paying participants.
Some companies will happily customize an itinerary for a group, while others will expect your group to fit into an existing program.
Group Trip to Greece Planning Checklist
- Determine the purpose of your group trip to Greece. Is it a fun activity for an existing group, or is it a specialized opportunity for Grecophiles? What is the main focus - food, fun, architecture, ancient history, sun and sand, cultural interaction?
- Do specific destinations matter, or is a general trip to Greece appropriate for your group? If there are unusual must-sees for your group, you'll want to work with a company who is willing to customize an itinerary. Another option: do all the planning yourself. While this can be a huge job, it also gives you, the organizer, the most control - and the most responsibility if anything goes wrong.
- How many people can you realistically expect to want to go? Most people overestimate the number of friends, members, and colleagues that they can persuade to go at a given time. This is one time when "counting your chickens before they hatch" can help you narrow down your trip options. Don't just think so and so might go - give them a call.
- Decide if you need a "celebrity" trip leader. You may want to give that potential "free" slot to someone who can pull in additional participants. This could be a popular teacher, minister, workshop leader, or other person who can help group members to commit to traveling together.
- Decide when to go to Greece.Your group may have a particular time which works for most members, or you may want the cheapest date options if cost is a big consideration. Usually, a 9-12 month lead time is best.
- Review Greek tour and cruise company offerings and ask for estimates for your custom trips, if necessary. Don't be afraid to negotiate. A worldwide travel slowdown puts you in the driver's seat - most cruise and tour operators will be very happy to talk with you and make it work.
- Create a trip marketing plan. Many companies may have materials you can use for this purpose, but in most cases, you'll want to put up your own webpage to encourage signups and provide a central place for trip information to be posted, and create a flyer you can distribute or mail. Take into consideration the schedule for any newsletters, major meetings, or other established communications your group uses already. You'll want to get your information included.
Some Greek Group Tour Resources
Rent a Bus in GreeceThis service provides cars, mini-buses, and full tour buses for up to 49 people traveling throughout Greece. Based in Athens. I like their clear price list (which is in Euros). Example - a 49-passenger bus for an all-day trip from Athens through Patra and to Olympia and back is 980 Euro - or about Euro 20 per person for a journey of hundreds of miles taking 10-12 hours.
Private Shore Excursions[/br]You may not be limited to what your cruise ship provides - you can arrange your own shore excursion for your group at a fraction of the cruise ship price in some popular locations.
Spring 9 Day Group Tour
This basic trip starts at US 1660 per person; one free trip per 25 participants. Shore excursions not included.
Athens Tourism Development Organization
Thessaloniki Convention Bureau
Find and Compare Airfares to Greece
Compare prices on: Hotels in Greece
Book Your Own Day Trips in Athens:
Day Trips in Athens and Around Greece
